Three fishermen rescued after boat sinks in the Race

A good Samaritan rescued three fishermen whose boat sank Thursday in the Race, a popular fishing spot in Long Island Sound, near Little Gull Island, N.Y., the U.S. Coast Guard said.

At 4:53 p.m., a communications watchstander from Coast Guard Station New London received a call on VHF Channel 16 from the vessel Highlander, which had recovered the three fishermen.

The owner of the 21-foot fishing boat said they had been drift fishing in the Race when the engine failed and the vessel was caught in the tidal change rip current. The vessel took on water and eventually sank, the Coast Guard said. All three crewmembers were wearing their life jackets before entering the water.

"This is why we can't stress enough how important it is to wear your lifejacket," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Troy Castineira, of Station New London, in a news release. "These fishermen were extremely fortunate that they were rescued when their boat sank in more than 250 feet of water. Who knows how long they would've been out there before someone rescued them."

Station New London's boat crew responded to the scene and transported the three fishermen to Pine Island. The boat that sunk is not reported as a navigation hazard.